Heller? 75% off! Yessss!

I know, I know.... shopping? after Christmas? Well, I went to Target to see if their Christmas was still 50% off. The one closest to my house was... but I chatted with a nice lady who obviously has a shopaholic problem like me:) She said that the Target near the Mall was already 75% off! Off I go, about 6 miles and honey please. I was in HOG HEAVEN! **I knew when I took this picture... I would EVENTUALLY use it**
I bought villages for me and Tracy that WERE $9.99... now $2.50 each piece! Ribbons, bags, tags, bows, ornaments, decorations, lights (for the tree next year since mine croaked) and OMG so many good things! I LOVE shopping when it is actually like stealing.

Cindylou called while I was shopping and Justin was on the phone from Afghanistan (my Marine Nephew). He said he needed phone calling cards. I had him a package to mail so off I went to find him an AT&T calling card and get it in the mail. He had gotten letters and packages and he was fine! It made my heart feel soooo good to know that he had finally received his goodies from us! We were sad that during Christmas, his packages had not made it. So I hiked off to the Post Office and mailed him another package, including a movie, and his phone card! This Wednesday was a GREAT day!

I want you to go read this post if you have a chance! This is Angelique, she is a feisty young woman who is having some health issues. She had an encounter with a thug yesterday... well go read! Go Angelique!

http://sixinonehand.blogspot.com/2009/12/don.html

Thank you all for your sweet comments on my 300th post! I cherish you all so much and can't think of having a day without you all in it:)

Hugs and love to all of you!

300th Post Giveaway

I can't believe this is # 300! On March 2, 2009 I started my blog. Not having any idea what it was all about, and had no idea how many new friends I would make. I am so thankful to my Niece, Kelly Kelly for getting me interested in blogging. NOW, it is a part of my daily routine. It is the first thing I do in the morning while drinking my coffee. It is the last thing I do at night before going to bed. Not only have I taken pictures of the craziest things for my blog but have captured sweet images that I have shared with people I never knew. Thanks to all of you for taking an interest in my daily stories, for your treasured comments and for sharing your lives with me.

I have friends all over the United States that 300 posts ago I didn't know and today I can't imagine not knowing! Joyce in Seattle who is more like a sister to me. My dear friends, Karen in California, Dogwood, Goldenbird, Lynda of Billypsmom, Deb at Garage Sale Gal, BJ at Sweet Nothings, Elyse at Cottage, Sherry at Country Wings of Phoenix, Angelique at Six in One Hand Madness in the other, Anne of Fiona and Twig, Michelle at From House to Home, Debra at Common Ground, Chari at Happy to Design, Grandma Nina, Barb at Bella Vista, Joan at Anything Goes, Queen of Clearance, Laura at White Spray Paint, Barb at French Elements, Laura at 52 Flea, and last but most certainly not least Debbie at Love the Decor who just lost her precious Dad. These are my regular daily reads and loyal commenters. I hope I didn't miss anyone:)

I also have my loyal family bloggers, my daughter tracychele at weekender, my sister Cindylou at Momof1marine, and my niece and my blog teacher Kelly Kelly at agirlnamedkellykelly!

I love you all, I treasure your friendships and can't wait to see what you all have been up to each day!

Leave a comment and after a few days... I will choose a winner and you will get something good from little 'ole me!

He gave-I spent:)

My wonderful husband gave me a Hobby Lobby gift card for Christmas. He hates to shop and does some shopping at the very last minute. He asked me if there was anything that I would like to have, I told him a few things including a Hobby Lobby gift card. He bought me some new dish towels, some soup bowls and bread plates to match the dishes he gave me last year and a large serving tray. Monday morning, after my morning ritual... off I go to spend it. I said to myself, "Self, they have Christmas stuff 50% off". Not sure how long they wait to up the % but then there is much less of a selection. It was a $100 gift card and I am a GOOD shopper, lots of practice... I spent $96.16. Yep almost all of it. I wrote "Thank You" on the receipt and left it at his spot at the kitchen table. I told him I felt like it was shopping on free money. (Duh, I'll pay the bill when it comes in) but that was fun. He said I should go buy up a bunch of gift cards, I said "OK":) Sounds like a great idea!
These are the goodies that I bought... all of it was 50% off. A craft organizer, wrapping paper that is labeled Christmas but can be used all year, ribbons, bows, mesh bags, other craft goodies and Merry Christmas Blocks. I wanted these but refused to pay $20 for them, but $10? I'll pay that. When I first saw them, the package was busted... the "S" was missing. I thought, sometimes I say "Merry Christma" but I would really like to have the "S"! I dug around and as you can see from the picture FOUND THE "S"! 1/2 off with an "S" too. Yippppeeeee! I bought a few other things but hid them in the picture so you wouldn't see. Who knows you might get something special in this pile of goodies!

Did you know that Hobby Lobby doesn't use scanners to keep the prices down on their goods. I heard someone ask the cashier to scan something for a price and she said we don't use scanners. I researched it when I got home and that is what I found.

So.... from Hobby Lobby to visit my Sister, Barbara for a little while and back home. Spaghetti for dinner with garlic bread. Yummy!

Have a day filled with smiles!

I guess we have to move on....

Now I just have to tell you... I wasn't ready to take my Christmas tree down. I love getting up first thing in the morning and turning the tree on OR if my honey gets up first, he turns it on. He knows how I hate a dark tree:) Well, on Sunday morning when I got up... turned my tree on and oops, only the bottom of the tree was lit. OH NO... My sweetie had just asked me Saturday when I wanted to take the tree down and I said " I'm not ready yet ". When he came downstairs I said "I guess the tree was ready"! So, instead of leaving the tree up ONE more week. It is down, in the box and in the attic. I am a weird bird, I don't like a dark tree, I don't like a tree with NO presents under it. So when the gifts are all gone, I put our opened gifts under the tree and any decorative boxes that I have... just so it doesn't look so sad and empty. I didn't take down all my decorations, just not ready to be done with this Christmas. I enjoy the week after Christmas because all of the hustle, bustle is over. It is more relaxing and I seem to really enjoy the "BETWEEN Christmas and New Years"

OH well... as I said in a comment on one of blogger friends... "A new day, A new week and A new year" The new year will be here soon, 2010! I pray it will be a great year! I am gonna work at taking down the rest of my decorations this week... slowly, doing a little after Christmas "sale" shopping and getting ready for a BRAND NEW YEAR!

Love to all!

Christmas 2009 DONE!

Another Christmas done! Saturday was our family gathering with just our kids and grandkids! When we married 24 years ago, I had Tracy and Marc had two children, Marcy and Anna. They aren't his and mine... they are ours:)
We had a wonderful time, lots of food and sweet hugs! I love having these little girls all at one tiny table:)
Madison always loves to play the piano when she comes for a visit! Sweet Alex stopping for a pose and cheesing Ganky!

Three precious younguns, not really Sisters... but just like Sisters:)

Look at this little cutiepie! She had such a good time:)

And Madison never stopped the whole time! She played with Alex and Avery and had so much fun!

And a princess is a princess even with the crown upside down and her chariot was a cardboard box!

This picture is blurry but Avery was so darn cute wearing one of her gifts! How cute, looks like a veil or a halo:) So sweet! She loved it and wore it the rest of the day!

It has been a busy month and a busier few days! I enjoyed every moment with family and friends but will be glad to get the busy behind me. A new day, a new week and a new year:) Love to all!

Was a Ho Ho Ho kind of a day!

I guess I have been looking thin:) Can you believe ALL of this good stuff?What's up with that, ya'll trying to fatten me up:) I will HAVE to share! Anybody hungry? Candy and cookies, sweet pecans that my sister, Barbara made and hot chocolate mix. Tracy and family gave me a book about Eat This Not That:) Great book! That should help! I have looked at it several times in the store but didn't buy it!
My Sister Brenda getting some new PJs.

My Sister Barbara opening a gift!

This year instead of our favorite things, we had to MAKE our personal gift to each other. My three sisters, Tracy and me. This was my gift to them. I bought the boxes at Hobby Lobby, painted them, covered the inside and WahLah...

Bradley looking all handsome waiting patiently to open his gifts(my nephew)

Avery in her ballerina suit from Ganky and Pa. She opened it and went and put in on right away!

Alex at the Christmas Eve dinner... she was looking so cute in her Santa hat.

Cindylou opening her double boiler that she DESPERATELY needed. She coached us in the candy making and didn't have one. Now she does.

Austin LOVED all of his gifts. He really wanted this movie.

Pa and I gave the family a Kareoke machine. These two really loved it.

Two cousins, best friends:)

Tracy with Cindy...Tracy's homemade gift that Cindy made for her.

Brenda (my sister) passing our her homemade gift!

These are some of my gifts.

My homemade gift from Cindylou (the bag), and the trivet/coasters from Tracy.

Tracy and family gave me this for my computer. Love it. It makes blogging on the sofa so much more comfortable.

And this is my oldest Brother Marshall at the Christmas Eve dinner. He is showing me that he is wearing his Santa clothespin that I painted for his birthday. He clips his glasses to his suspenders with a clothespin and now he has designer ones. Isn't he cute?

I know how you all missed all my pictures on the Christmas Morning blog so I threw in a few extras. Happy Day after Christmas. We have another family gathering today. Ho Ho Ho some Mo Mo Mo! Have a blessed day!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone! Hope your day is filled with love!

This is me when I was much younger! I must have gotten a doll stroller and was trying it out:) See the fruit under the tree. That was one of our favorite traditions along with a box of candy. My Brother, Leon in the background checking out something that he got for Christmas. Those were the days, my friend!

Have a blessed day! We have a busy one, breakfast and gifts at Tracy's this morning. Gotta get busy cooking. I'll be back tomorrow!

Dinner For Austin's Birthday!

Austin chose Daruma for his Birthday dinner. We had just eaten there for Tracy's but we all love it, so off we go. We laughed and ate and laughed some more! Austin enjoyed it and that was why we were there. Pa and I gave Austin a digital camera for his birthday! When he opened it, he said "YES"! He loved it!Bradley was pretending to be Santa Clause, he has a napkin tied around his face. Look at those little girls... they thought it was soooo funny! FUN night, another birthday celebration done! Christmas Eve, got a busy day and night and tomorrow:) Have a blessed day everyone! Love to all!

Happy 11th Birthday to my Austin!

Today is my Grandson, Austin's 11th birthday! Happy Birthday to my precious Austin! I hope you have a wonderful day!

Look at that sweet, happy little fella:)

Wait on me....

Austin and Autumn 2001? Look at him with his little foot propped up:)What a cutiepie!
This boy loves video games! He is really good too:)

2002 Love that sweet little face!

2002 I love you sign:)

2002 hugging Ganky at school!

Sweet picture pre-Avery!

Austin has such a loving personality!

Good at all sports...

He has grown up right before my very eyes! What a sweet young boy he is! I love you Austin! Happy, Happy Birthday!

Burning my candles....

I am really bad about getting a really nice candle as a gift and SAVING it! This year, I AM NOT saving candles. I am BURNING those babies and enjoying them. I have seen lots of stories about saving the good china and saving the good napkins and yes NOT burning the candles. This year those candles are burning... if they melt away, so be it. Why am I feeling that way this year? I don't really know except as I unpack stuff... I see things that I keep packing away and not using. Why? Not sure, but this Christmas when I pack stuff away... there are going to be some burned candles. I have already burned the candle Kelly gave me... completely! It smelled sooo good. When Marc came in from work on Monday night, there were candles burning all over the place:)
Loved it, I was sitting in the middle of the floor wrapping presents and feeling the Christmas spirit. I shopped at Walmart for some final things (that I didn't need) and groceries for Christmas food. It was a really productive day! Counting it down....
This is my Christmas card holder and my snowman that my sister, Brenda gave me last year!

Have a great day today, enjoy your family and burn your candles:)